Emergency Auto Assistance

Purdue University conducted a recent survey that found the majority of drivers are perfectly fine with driving at a speed above the posted limit- regardless of what that number is.

In fact, 21% of those surveyed said it wasn’t a problem to drive 5 mph over the limit, 43% said it was fine to go 10 mph over, and 36% of people said why not go 20 mph over the limit.

Fred Mannering, who is the author of the study, hypothesizes, that measures to associate concerns, such as neighborhood safety, noise, and fuel-efficiency, has caused people to disassociate speed limits with safety.  This is why many officials lower the speed limit signs artificially because they figure that drivers will go over the speed limit 5-10mph.

The biggest danger isn’t speeding, but discrepancies in how fast some motorists are going compared to others.  If half the drivers are going the speed limit and half are over by 20 mph, then problems arise, such as accidents and emergency roadside assistance calls.

The recommended intervals for oil changes have increased a significant amount over the last ten years. It used to be that oil changes were recommended every 3,000 miles, but now recommendations are for every 8,000 miles. This is great news for drivers because it means less time at the mechanic and less money spent. However, there are a few cautionary notes to consider.

First of all, consult your owner’s manual for the “maximum recommended interval”. Make sure you don’t extend beyond that number because saving $40 on an oil change is not worth having an $800 repair due to sludge buildup.

Second, if your driving type falls under “heavy duty” you will need to change your oil more regularly. Often, drivers don’t realize that daily stop-and-go commuting falls under this category. Also, if you use your vehicle for short trips with little highway driving you many need shorter oil changeouts.

Finally, you should use the specific oil type/grade recommended by the carmaker. Failing to use the right oil type can result in poor car performance, engine damage, and even void the terms of your auto warranty.

Although less frequent oil changes are convenient for consumers, people need to follow these cautionary notes. After all, you don’t want to ruin an engine or end up having to call for emergency roadside assistance because you didn’t add a couple of quarts of Pennzoil.

Drivers need to watch out for Bambi next month.

Drivers have a three time greater chance of hitting a deer in November than any other month, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute, who compiled research over the last five years.

Last year, those crashes killed 223 motorists, not just deer.

Because of urban sprawl, deer habitat and suburbia are intersecting, according to a senior VP of HLDI.

However, the most important factor is that deer breeding season begins in November.

Drivers need to take extra precautions to stay safe on the road.  People should make sure to wear their seatbelts, pay attention to the road, and have a good auto road service program.  Keep in mind that 60% of victims didn’t have on their seatbelts.

HLDI claims that the most dangerous times are at dusk, dawn and night, and on roads that have speed limits of 55 mph.

Never buy a used vehicle without having it scrutinized by an independent mechanic. You never know the true state of a used vehicle until a professional has examined it. Failure to do this could have you calling for emergency roadside assistance.

A dealership shouldn’t object to you having a private inspection if you leave a photo I.D. If they tell you an inspection has already been done, insist that you would like the car looked at by a shop of your choice.

The technician should put the car on a lift to inspect the undercarriage. The cost of a thorough diagnostic should run you about $100, but ask in advance. You can request a written report that will give you details of the vehicle’s condition. The negotiation may come in handy when you negotiate with the seller.

If you’re unsure of a good repair shop, try to find a referral from someone you trust. You could also go to your local auto-parts store to ask for a good mechanic. Try not to just pick a name out of a phone book; it’s better to use someone you are familiar with.

Buying a used vehicle is a great way to save money, however, you want to make sure you aren’t getting a lemon. Putting in the extra time to take the car to a mechanic may save you numerous road service calls down the road.

Families consider the safety of their children a top priority. Unfortunately, among children age’s 3-14, car accidents are the number one cause of death. Parents need to take extra precautions in order to help their children stay safe. They can do this by properly restraining children by using car seats correctly.

More than 1,500 children under the age of 14 were killed in car accidents in 2003. In addition, 220,000 injuries occurred. However, using a car seat effectively can reduce these incidents drastically. In facts, studies show that deaths are reduced by approximately 70%. Alarmingly, about 75% of car seats aren’t installed properly. Also scary is that half of the deaths are children who aren’t restrained at all.

General Motors has recognized this problem by creating a program called Safe Kids Buckle Up. This program helps parents understand how important it is to restrain children correctly. The program has inspected over 900,000 car seats around the nation.

Parents need to take extra precautions to keep their children safe on the road. To do this, parents should use car seats correctly, drive defensively, and have a good emergency roadside assistance program. After all, children are precious cargo.

Vehicle safety and maintenance is about performing all of the little things right, like replacing your windshield wipers frequently. A simple task such as this could save you from an accident or help you avoid calling for emergency roadside assistance. And, purchasing a quality pair of windshield wipers will only cost you $10, according to Consumer Reports.

Three out of the four blades that Consumer Reports rated on top were actually some of the least expensive. Included in these were the Michelin RainForce, which were $7 for the 18-inch, the Valeo 600 series, which were $9 for the 18-inch, and Anco 31 Series, which were $7 for the 18-inch.

It’s a good thing that good windshield wipers are cheap because they should be replaced fairly often. According to the report, even blades that are top-rated will degrade after six to nine months of regular use. But, it’s best to stay on top of this so you don’t end up calling for road service.

If you’re interested in buying the top-of-the-line windshield wipers, you will want the RainX Latitude because those were the only wipers that maintained a “Very Good” performance rating throughout the entire six months of testing. However, for those you will have to pay $17 for the 18-inch.

It is estimated that 650 people are killed and 32,000 are injured as a result of vehicle accidents related to tire problems. Yet, a recent survey revealed that 84 percent of motorists don’t check the pressure of their tires.

Another issue is that poorly maintained tires can be dangerous, and even leave you stranded on the side of the road. Although you can always call for emergency roadside assistance, there are a few safety tips that drivers should keep in mind to avoid this.

Make sure you don’t overload your tires because overheating can occur. The result of this could be a blowout or a vehicle accident. Your owner’s manual will give you proper loading instructions.

Tires that are under inflated also pose a risk. This occurs naturally and cold weather accelerates the process. In fact, frigid temperatures can cause tires to lose up to two pounds of air in one month. Under inflated tires are actually resistant to rolling. It can feel like you are driving with the parking brake on.

Lastly, don’t over inflate tires because it can cause the tread to wear in the center.

Checking your tire pressure regularly can save you from many problems with your vehicle. Of course, you never know when you might get a flat, so just in case, make sure you have a road service program that can help you in case of an emergency.

Fuel prices continued in a schizophrenic manner this last week, as gas shortages hit the Southeastern U.S. very hard. While the average around the nation stayed at a modest $3.64 per gallon, southern states, such as Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas, and Tennessee witnessed gas stations that were bone-dry. And the gas stations that still had gas had lines of cars waiting two hours to fuel up.

Much of the blame for the spike in price recently, goes to Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, but the Southeastern states have an added burden on their shoulders because there is minimal refining and fuel storage capacity in that region. Pipelines that start in Texas provide the majority of their gas.

Because Ike came so quickly after Gustav, refineries in Texas practically sat idle for about a month, and the small amount of inventory that the Southeast was able to accrue dried up. Over the last three weeks, the region has felt the pinch of the limited supply.

Unfortunately, circumstances in the southeast have left many motorists stranded after running out of gas. Auto road service calls were high due to this problem, which is why it is always a good idea to have a good roadside assistance program in case of emergencies.

California jumped on board with several other states last week when it decided to ban text messaging behind the wheel. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety supported this move by California because of the large amount of accidents and road service calls that result from it. Drivers who are caught texting will pay $25 for their first offense and $50 each time after that.

Interestingly, a similar bill that would put a ban on people driving while holding their dogs on their laps is going to be vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In addition, his camp claimed that he would only sign high-priority bills.

It is difficult to determine the distinction here, except for the fact that text messaging is a much more common practice while driving than people letting their dogs hang out on their laps.

One of the leading causes of car accidents and emergency roadside assistance calls is distracted drivers, so a ban on texting while driving will help drivers stay safer on the roads.

An electric recharging station is going to be added to the affluent suburb of Lake Oswego in Oregon. Local leaders believe that adding this station downtown will draw people into the area. Portland General Electric will be working with the city in hopes of creating a network of similar stations.

At the moment, there are only 270 electric cars that are registered in Oregon, but with cars like the Chevy Volt, and electric Toyota, Chrysler, and Ford vehicles; stations like these may become more common. It hasn’t been mentioned whether it will be free to charge, but the electricity is being supplied by renewable sources, although the specific type- solar, wind, etc. isn’t stated.

The main drawback is that charging a vehicle with electricity takes a lot of time. For instance, GM claims that it will take the Chevy Volt about four hours to recharge with a high-voltage outlet. Ideally, stations such as these would be placed near local businesses where commuters could recharge their cars during their workday.

Unfortunately, electric charging stations aren’t available anywhere else in the U.S., so people are apprehensive to purchase these cars for fear that they will end up calling for emergency roadside assistance when their car dies.